
Dear Monument Australia visitors, we are a self-funded, non-profit organisation, dedicated to recording monuments throughout Australia. Over time the costs of maintaining this website have risen substantially (in fact they are probably larger than those of many companies who exist for profit). In the past we have borne all the costs associated with maintaining the website but we are now having difficulties in paying the monthly expenses.
If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Home » Themes » Disaster » Land Transport
Penshurst Railway DisasterPrint Page 
A monument at the cemetery commemorates seven men who were killed during the construction of the Penshurst - Koroit railway. The monument is close to the graves of those who died.
In March 1890, seven men died and others were badly injured on a homeward journey at the end of work. The train, with an open truck at the front of it, overturned when it struck a bullock on the line a short distance from the township. The young men were returning to the `single mens` camp` at Penshurst, with most of them being Irish born or of Irish descent.
The people of Penshurst in 1890 were shocked and saddened by the tragedy, laying the dead to rest in the Boram Boram cemetery just outside the township.
Location
Address: | Boram Boram Lane, Penshurst Cemetery, Penshurst, 3289 |
---|---|
State: | VIC |
Area: | AUS |
GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -37.837118 Long: 142.276073 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
Monument Type: | Monument |
---|---|
Monument Theme: | Disaster |
Sub-Theme: | Land Transport |
Actual Event Start Date: | 01-March-1890 |
Actual Event End Date: | 01-March-1890 |
Dedication
Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Sunday 26th March, 2000 |
---|
Time Shall Not Weaken
The Memory Of Those Who Died Tragically
On The Building Of The Penshurst - Koroit Railway
March 1st, 1890.
James Callghan (22)
John Dillon (24)
John Dunphy (24)
Patrick McGee (33)
John O`Donnell (21)
William Waters (27)
James O`Brien (28) Buried Melbourne
Quiet Is The Rail At The End Of The Day
Silent Now From Hammer Blows
And Silent Forever
The Voices Of Working Men
Who Died On Their Homeward Journey
The Workers`Carriage Overturned After
Striking A Bullock
Three Kilometres East Of Penshurst
Commemoration 26.3.2000